THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 300, 2 October 1939, Page 4

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE AMALGAMATION QUESTION. LETTER FROM,THE DEPARTMENT The Ashburton High School Board of Governors met this morning when there were present Dr. G. I. Miller (chairman) E. H. Orr, J .Brown, F. Frampton, J. W. Bowden, M. Bruce, H. C. B. Withell and G. C. Nicoll. A grant of one guinea was made to the Ashburton branch of the "Workers’ Educational Association. A letter was received from the Department of Education pointing out that teachers' on military service would be absent without pay. Their places would be taken by relieving teachers. There were safeguards as far as promotion and salary increments were concerned. Time spent on military service would count as time in the education service. A letter in reply to that sent by the two secondary school Boards in Ashburton asking that the Department should take early steps 1 to bring about the amalgamation of the two schools, was received from the Department, stating that it was glad to note the friendly co-operation that now existed between the two Boards. Under existing legislation it would not be possible to combine the t'vo Boards before the new school was built. To do this now would involve the utmost difficulties. A report on minor requirements at the school was presented by Mr M. Bruce o|i behalf of the Visiting Committee. The headmaster (Mr E. A. Cockroft) reported that the school resumed after the holidays on Monday, September 11. The roll number now stood at 255 (124 boys and 131 girls). Since the opening of the term there had been two new entries and four removals. On Wednesday and Thursday of last week Miss J. Hetherington and Mr E. Caradus, Secondary School Inspectors, were at the school. The Department had notified +hat the following were the dates for terms and holidays next year:—First term, February 6 to May 3; ISceond term, May 21 to August 16; Tinrd term, September 10 to December 13. The commencing day of each term could be fixed as Monday instead of Tuesday if the Board found it convenient. Some of the Fijian footballers visited the school during their stay in Ashburton, and their visit was enjoyed and.much appreciated. The boys’ athletic sports would be held to-morrow on the Domain-. Oval. A cordial invitation was given to members of the Board to be present. Report of Farm Work. Spring cultivation was well in hand. No suitable area was available for additional wheat so the school was not able to respond to the call for increased quantities of this cereal. A further four, acres of oats and four acres of grass had been sown; five acres were ready for drilling rape and a start would be made on the turnip land as soon as possible. Ninety-one lambs had been tailed so far and more would be done next week. The last of the pigs had been disposed of. The teamster, Mr J. Smith, had resigned, having enlisted in the special force. '